“Zhang Tian, have you ever received Hunter training?”
Utsushi looked at Zhang Tian and asked.
“I’ve never had any Hunter training.”
Zhang Tian shook his head.
“In that case, come with me. Let’s go to the Training Area.”
Utsushi waved for Zhang Tian to follow before heading outside.
“Pidgeotto, Great Izuchi, once you’re finished eating, continue your usual training.”
“As for Tobi-Kadachi, go through every move you know and familiarize yourself with all of them.”
Zhang Tian looked toward Pidgeotto, Great Izuchi, Tobi-Kadachi, and the others, giving them their instructions before quickly following Utsushi.
The two soon arrived at Kamura Village’s Training Area.
“Before we begin your Hunter training, you need to choose a weapon that suits you.”
“Come on. Take a look and see which one you like.”
Utsushi pointed toward the weapon rack beside them.
“A weapon, huh?”
Zhang Tian stared at the weapons on the rack and fell into thought.
During his time playing Monster Hunter Rise, Zhang Tian had used practically every weapon in the game and was proficient with all of them.
But the weapon he was most comfortable with was the Light Bowgun.
The Light Bowgun was easy to operate, had respectable damage, and offered excellent mobility.
It had always been Zhang Tian’s favorite weapon when playing the game.
But reality was different from a video game.
The Light Bowgun was extremely powerful in the game, but in the real world, it was far less impressive.
Its attacks were simply too weak against powerful monsters, making it difficult to inflict truly devastating damage.
In the official novels, the three ranged weapons—the Light Bowgun, Bow, and Heavy Bowgun—barely had any presence at all.
Their damage output was relatively low.
Against truly powerful Elder Dragons, ranged weapons could even struggle to penetrate their defenses.
“Long Sword!”
“Instructor Utsushi, I’ll choose the Long Sword.”
After thinking for a long time, Zhang Tian finally made his choice.
The reason he chose the Long Sword was simple.
In the real world, the Long Sword was practically broken.
The weapon possessed five techniques with invincibility frames so powerful that, when used correctly, they could completely negate attacks.
Those five techniques were the ordinary moves Iai Slash, Sacred Sheathe, and Foresight Slash, as well as the Wirebug techniques Serene Pose and Sacred Sheathe Slash.
That was precisely why Zhang Tian had chosen the Long Sword.
On top of that, the Long Sword had excellent mobility and respectable damage output.
Especially after activating Harvest Moon, its damage potential could increase dramatically.
“Long Sword?”
Utsushi nodded slightly before taking an iron Long Sword from the weapon rack.
“Before you learn how to use the Long Sword, I’ll teach you how to use the Spirit.”
“Whether it’s Wirebug techniques or ordinary Long Sword techniques, they all require Spirit to activate.”
“Only those who successfully master Spirit can become Hunters.”
“Listen carefully. Spirit works like this…”
Utsushi began explaining how Spirit worked and how a Hunter could cultivate and control it.
He spoke continuously for quite some time.
“Do you understand?”
More than ten minutes later, Utsushi looked at Zhang Tian.
His mouth was dry from explaining everything.
“I’ve learned it.”
Zhang Tian raised his hand.
A powerful energy immediately gathered in his palm. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
It was the Hunter’s Spirit.
“You learned it?!”
Utsushi stared at Zhang Tian in shock.
He had actually learned how to use Spirit after hearing the explanation only once.
That was simply monstrous.
Utsushi had never heard of anyone else who could master Spirit after a single lesson.
As far as he knew, the fastest record held by the Guild was ten days.
Ten days was the shortest amount of time anyone had ever needed to learn how to use Spirit.
To be honest, Zhang Tian himself hadn’t expected his talent to be this incredible.
After thinking about it, however, he felt that it probably had something to do with his Pokémon conversion.
His talent was likely so exceptional because he had been converted into a Pokémon using a Hunter as his template.
Since his template was based on a Hunter, it made sense that he would learn Hunter techniques exceptionally quickly.
“What terrifying talent.”
“Perhaps you really can save the village.”
Utsushi sighed in amazement.
He then tossed the Long Sword in his hand toward Zhang Tian.
“Next, I’ll teach you the Long Sword’s combat techniques.”
“Let’s start with Drawn Slash.”
Utsushi picked up another Long Sword nearby.
He lowered his body into position, stepped forward, and delivered a powerful slash.
“When using Drawn Slash, Spirit flows through the body like this. You need to guide it…”
Utsushi raised his hand and demonstrated how the Spirit should circulate through the body.
Just like before, Zhang Tian understood it after seeing it once.
Two hours later, Zhang Tian had mastered every fundamental Long Sword technique and skill.
An ordinary Hunter might need several years, ten years, or even an entire lifetime to master these techniques.
Zhang Tian had needed only two hours.
“Are you really sure you’ve never learned the Long Sword before?”
Utsushi stared at Zhang Tian in disbelief.
Even someone as calm and composed as Utsushi had been completely stunned by Zhang Tian’s talent.
Two hours.
That was all it had taken Zhang Tian to master things that other Hunters might spend years—or even their entire lives—learning.
What kind of terrifying talent was this?
“I really haven’t.”
“Today is the first time I’ve ever learned it.”
Zhang Tian waved his hand and smiled.
“Haa…”
Utsushi took a deep breath.
His eyes burned with excitement as he looked at Zhang Tian.
Zhang Tian’s astonishing talent had given him hope.
Hope that Kamura Village could be saved.
Hope that Magnamalo could eventually be defeated.
“From now on, if there’s anything you need, just tell me.”
Utsushi patted Zhang Tian on the shoulder and spoke seriously.
At this moment, Zhang Tian represented hope.
Utsushi intended to devote everything he could to nurturing him.
“Don’t worry. I won’t hold back.”
“At this point, aside from actual combat experience, there’s basically nothing more I can teach you.”
“From now on, we’ll spar.”
“Real combat experience can only be accumulated through fighting. Simply talking about it isn’t enough.”
Utsushi picked up his Long Sword.
The two immediately began sparring.
Utsushi was extremely powerful.
He possessed Level 79 Champion-Class strength, placing him on roughly the same level as Minoto and Hinoa.
Therefore, Utsushi had no need to worry about Zhang Tian seriously injuring him.
In other words, Utsushi was an exceptionally good sparring partner.
He could help Zhang Tian rapidly accumulate real combat experience.
From then on, Zhang Tian spent every day sparring with Utsushi in the Training Area.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
After five days of training, Zhang Tian’s level had reached 35.
Vigorwasp had reached Level 32.
Pidgeotto had reached Level 35.
Great Izuchi had reached Level 36.
Tobi-Kadachi and Arzuros were still at Level 39.
However, Zhang Tian could feel that both of them were close to breaking through.
Once they reached Level 40, both monsters would enter the Gym Leader Class.
At that point, Zhang Tian would possess enough strength to hunt monsters on the level of a Rathian.
“The food’s almost gone. Time to go hunting.”
Zhang Tian glanced at the dwindling supply of Great Girros meat before beginning to put on his equipment.
Using Great Girros’s materials, Zhang Tian had forged a Great Girros Long Sword and a complete set of Great Girros Armor.
Because he was now a resident Hunter of Kamura Village, he hadn’t needed to pay for the equipment.
The moment Zhang Tian finished putting on the Great Girros equipment, his aura changed.
Clearly, his Equipment Ability had taken effect.
“System.”
Zhang Tian opened the System and checked his current information.
Zhang Tian
Level: 35 — Elite Class
Type: Poison
Ability: Poison Killer
When attacking a poisoned enemy, Attack ×2.
Signature Moves: Evasion, Poison Blade, Poison Resistance, Mind’s Eye
HP Base Stat: 80
Attack Base Stat: 120
Defense Base Stat: 80
Special Attack Base Stat: 80
Special Defense Base Stat: 80
Speed Base Stat: 100
Total Base Stats: 540
“Stronger.”
“Not bad.”
Zhang Tian looked at his updated information with satisfaction.
There was an enormous difference between Zhang Tian wearing Hunter equipment and Zhang Tian without it.
His overall combat power had increased dramatically.